The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-05-06
A CUBAN BULL FIGHT.
A Typical Amusement of Our Island
Neighbors South.

NeighbOrs South.
Especial Correspondence
GREEN COVE SPRINGS Fla, April 25.
"Would we go to the bull fight?"
We were "doing" Cuba, and the question
was asked by Senior Pedro Maseda, our court
eous host in Havana. OF course we answered
yes, for all American visitors go "just once'-
and sometimes, suspect the "once" is re-
peated several times.
just then all Cuba was wild over new
star i'll the bull ring, Mazzantini by name,
Spaniard who had come from Madrid to fill
an engagement for fourteen performances,
for which his compensation was the paltry
sum of $4,000, and the entire expenses of
himself and his large company paid besides,
by the management.
Our tickets were procured for us by our
attentive host, on the shady side of the arena,
and cost us eight dollars EACH For the sunny
side they would have been much less. Thus
provided we were driven in a cab every
body rides in Havana) to the Plaza de Toros,
where the national sport is witnessed A
large circular building incloses an amphi-
theatre capable of seating upward OF 10000
people, The bull ring itself is in the center,
and is surrounded by fence which separates
it from the seats. Between the latter and the
retreat when too closely pressed by the
maddened animals. Occasionally the bull
goes over the fence too, but there are pass
ageways for the escape of the men III such
case and the bull is driven back into the
ring. ..-..
What sight meets our gaze as we take
our seats! A great sea of faces is before
us. Fair senoritas, gay cavaliers, grave
ont vp11tlH nd
wealth and rank, all are represented here.
Thousands of sparkling eyes and bewitching.
smiling faces tell us that this is a gala day.
But see! A horseman gallops into the
arena and advancing to the presidents box
asks for the key. This is thrown to him and
dexterously caught, and then he admits
the company. This is a pageant long
to be remembered. There is great
blast of trumpets, and in through
doorway march matadors and ban
derilleros and picadors, some on horse
back, some on foot, but all richly clad in the
most brilliant and picturesque costumes of
silk tinsel and gold How proud and stately
they look as they march around the arena!
Here is skill, power and bravery, the pomp
and splendor and all the stately grandeur of
the old days of chivalry.
Now 10000 eyes are turned expectantly
toward the strong doors under the music
stand, and presently they are thrown open,
and in bounds a bull What a magnificent
animal! He is blooded stock, bred for the
especial purpose, and as he dashes into the
arena a steel barb is fastened to his shoulder,
on which are different colored ribbons-his
breeders colors. How sleek he is, and well fed,
high spirited, wild, and fierce as Bengal tiger
Kept for some hours in a dark place the light
confuses him, and he is for moment blind
and dazed. Then surprise gives place to rage.
He snorts and paws the ground, shaking
fercely his shaggy head Now he catches
sight of picador and rushes madly after
him. But the bull fighter springs nimbly
over the fence. and the bull brings up against
it baffied and more enraged than ever. Then
ne spies another picador, and drives him also
over the barrier.
All this time the vast audience has been
working itself up into a frenzy of excitement.
Every man shouts until he is hoarse and ges-
ticulates with the vehemence of a mailman.
The ladies wave their handkerchiefs or fans,
and vie with the men in making themselves
heard. 1t is pandemonium let loose. No one
minds his neighbor. His eyes, his thoughts,
his whole being is centered on the contest Of
the arena. He imagines himself one of the
contestants, and cheers, scolds, laughs, objur-
gates-all in a breath and like one possessed.
And we2 Well. when one is in Rome he
must be like the Romans. You would have
shouted yourself had you been there.
But the bull now discovers a horseman,
and makes break for him. The picador
extends his lance, but the headlong rush of
the bull is too much for him. and he cannot
keep him off The poor blindfolded horse is
struck full on the flank, and goes down fear
fully nlangled by the bulls horns The plea
dor quickly disengages himself, while the
other fighters attract the bulls attention by
flinging their cloaks before his eyes, and the
dead or dying horse is dragged from the
arena.
Now follows something not quite so cruel
and requiring far more skill and bravery, /
the thrusting Of the banderillos. These are
wires thirty inches long. covered with gayly |
colored ribbons, and ending in sharp, I
barbed point. The banderillero advances
with one of these in each hand, and tue bull
makes a, dash for him. See the bandersilero
now He stands perfectly still awaiting the |
bulls assault. He has neither cloak nor fiag
to distract the mad beast; his only safety lies
in nirnbleness and cool courage. Head down, I
eyes closed, on comes the bull with asrusl
like the whirlwind. How will the bandelil-
lero escape his murderous hornss Ny conn
panioa grasps my arm with little scream OF
terror, and all over that vast asseinblase there